News Release Archive

ENVIRONMENT--911 SERVICE BEGINS APRIL 1
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The next major step in providing provincewide 911 service is only
days away, with the new service becoming available to residents
in the counties of Cumberland, Colchester and the Municipality of
East Hants effective April 1.
Environment Minister Wayne Adams, minister responsible for the
Emergency Measures Organization and Maritime Tel and Tel
president and CEO Colin Latham made the announcement today while
touring the training centre for 911 call takers. The facility is
located at MT&T's provincial network operations centre in
Halifax.
The 911 service is already in operation in Kings County, where it
was implemented for a three-year trial. Since the trial begin in
1992, 911 call takers have processed over 30,000 calls. By the
end of 1996, every Nova Scotian will have instant emergency
access to fire, police and ambulance service by calling 911.
The 911 service is a joint initiative of the province and MT&T.
The Emergency Measures Organization is funding the program, which
has cost approximately $6 million.
MT&T is implementation manager for the project, which includes
system design and maintenance, all training and procedures for
911 call takers, and management of the database, which provides
the civic address of every residence and business in Nova Scotia.
This database is updated every 24 hours to ensure accuracy.
When a call is made to 911, the computer screen in front of the
trained call taker displays the caller's name, address and
telephone number. It will also identify the fire, police and
ambulance service closest to the scene of the emergency. This
will significantly improve the speed at which help can be
provided.
"The expansion of 911 is just the latest example of government's
continued role as the central strand of the social safety net,"
Mr. Adams told a news briefing. "The 911 system is about saving
lives."
Mr. Latham said 911 is critical "to our customers' quality of
life and peace of mind, and it is a major step forward in our
efforts to effectively use telecommunications and information
technology to improve the lives of Nova Scotians."
The schedule for completion of the 911 project is as follows:
Region One-Colchester, Cumberland, East Hants-April 1, 1996
Region Two-Queens, Shelburne, Yarmouth, Digby, Annapolis-
April/June, 1996
Region Three-Pictou, Antigonish, Guysborough-April/June, 1996
Region Four-Halifax, Hants West, Lunenburg-July/September, 1996
Region Five-Inverness, Richmond, Victoria,
Cape Breton-October/December, 1996
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Contact: Mike Myette 902-424-6206
Alison Gillan 902-487-5284
jlw Mar. 22, 1996 3 p.m.